Is there anybody out there?

Catherine Deveny, who says that atheism is 'like a frog in a sock', is part of a campaign being brought to the people of Australia.

Apparently nearly one fifth of people surveyed there said they considered themselves to having no religion.

Meanwhile in Holland, a Dutch cleric who wrote the book, 'Believing in a god who does not exist', has been allowed to keep his job within the church.

There's tolerance for you.

Turin, however, still insists that pesky old shroud once contained the body of Christ, even though it's been carbon dated between 1260 and 1390.

Tricky that, but trivial details for hardline 'believers'.

I've just come back from watching the film 'Clash of the Titans'. Those Greeks believed in all kinds of crazy shit, but it made for good entertainment.

Plus ca change...

Articles of faith

When I was growing up, I believed in a lot of things.

As the years passed, most of these beliefs were questioned, melted away or discarded as nonsense.

Here then are a selection of things I don't believe in, followed by what I do believe in.

I don't believe in god; gods; angels; demons; tree spirits; ghosts; ufo's; aliens; ouija boards; heaven; hell; buddha; allah; santa claus; the tooth fairy; the devil; the bogeyman; remote viewing; spoon bending; clairvoyants; psychics; mystics; guru's; experts; bureaucracy; databases; governments; politicians; heisters; schmeisters; bankers; wankers; terrorists; freedom fighters; people's liberation armies; xenophobes; homophobes; patriots; racists; karma; life coaches; therapists; psychiatrists; telekinesis; telepathy; time travel; gangsters; hoods; zealots; single issue pressure groups; bigots; compulsory education; the demonisation of young people; the stereotyping of old people; the music industry; the film industry; nepotism; sport; gated communities; capitalism, or drains.

I do believe in giving of yourself; trying; breathing in and out; laughing raucously; crying; feeling shit some days; family; loved ones; friends; listening; giving a damn, anarchism; choice; collectivism; justice; freedom; equality; love; individuality; sharing; losing gracefully; winning magnanimously; doing the right thing; sticking your head above the parapet; being cheeky; being irreverent; fun; sniggering at the wrong moment; cremation; one life; jack russells; swearing; authenticity; toast; having fun; variety; new experiences; walks in the woods; holidays; music; wine; coffee; jam; art; theatre; european film; nature; sunlight; science; being generous; living life to the full; keeping calm; switching off; daydreaming; corny jokes; silence and radiators.

Fighting back against the deluded

Two things which happened this past week.

The first, innocuous enough, took place in a local coffee shop.

An old acquaintance I hadn't seen in years, appeared to be bamboozled when I told him I was an atheist.

The second occurred this afternoon. I thought this was a relic from last century but people really do still shove religious 'tracts' in your face, as if they are handing out money.

On both occasions, I pointed to the red and black enamel star pinned to my coat.

The former asked

'What is that. What is it with the secrets?'

The latter grunted

'What does that mean?'

Quid pro quo Clarice, quid pro quo...

The jawbone of an ass

The law sir, is an ass...

The lawyers are an enormous pain in the ass.

I refer of course to Cherie Bliar/Booth (what's in a name). declaring that because a guy was 'religious', it was understandable he broke another man's jaw and she wouldn't want the poor man to go to prison.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8497365.stm

It matters not one jot, which 'magic bus' he travels on, it's the

ridiculous supposition that delusion covers crime with an absolution

blanket.

Oh and he didn't just punch him in the bank, but had another crack

in the street.

I believe in breathing in and out.

Does this mean I can smack the numpties who don't?